The International Module at the Sabancı University School of Management

Sabancı University, founded in 1995 as a nonprofit foundation university, is an innovative institution responsive to the needs of all our constituents through a participatory, team-based culture. Sabancı University has an interdisciplinary educational infrastructure with the mission of “Creating and Developing Together.” The University aspires to become a global reference point for educational innovation.

In a relatively short span of time both the University and the School of Management (SOM) have made great advances towards its goals of innovation and internationalization. The School of Management received accreditation from AASCB as proof of its quality of faculty and educational programs. The University has ranked first in the “Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Turkish Higher Education Index” in 2012 by the Science, Industry and Technology Ministry. SOM has developed an international reputation leading to cooperation with high quality institutions worldwide. The University has ranked first in terms of the percentage of exchange students in the country, creating a multicultural campus. In 2011 SOM signed a strategic partnership agreement with MIT Sloan School of Management. Last but not least, the School with its Executive MBA program was ranked by Financial Times among the Best 100 Business Schools in 2014 and 2015.

School of Management offers a number of full-time and part-time graduate programs in addition to an undergraduate management program. The School hosts one of the most successful executive education centers in the region. In addition it is home to the Center for Applied Finance Education, Corporate Governance Forum of Turkey, the U.N.’s Carbon Disclosure Project Turkey, Entrepreneurship Development Program, and the Competitiveness Forum. SOM is a member the EFMD, CEEMAN, PRME and Global Compact.

Study trip in Istanbul promises an experience unlike any other. Istanbul is the city of wonder between Europe and Asia. The university campus is on the outskirts of the Asian side of Istanbul next to industrial heart of the city. As the largest city in Turkey and 5th largest in the world with a population of 12.8 million, Istanbul (European Capital of Culture, 2010) is a cultural, economic, and financial center of its region. During its long history the city served as the capital of three Empires. Turkey is the 16th largest economy in the world with a booming economy and easy access to 1.5 billion customers in Europe, Eurasia, the Middle East, and North Africa.

It seems that not a week goes by when Turkey is not in the news. From relations with Europe, Russia, and its other neighbors, to the challenges of harboring 3 million plus Syrian refugees, Turkey is a country confronting massive challenges. Yet with half its 80 plus million population under the age of 30, it is also a highly dynamic country. What does it mean to be a manager in a company in Turkey, resting at the meeting point of three continents? The international module at the Sabancı School of Management, Sabancı University, aims to provide attendees a deep appreciation of:

The political, economic, and socio-cultural context of doing business in Turkey.

Develop a broader understanding of the characteristics of Turkish culture and the influence of the Turkish cultural mindset on management.

How Turkish business been changing and what it is doing to meet the challenges of a turbulent global economy.

What are the cross-cultural challenges and opportunities facing expatriate managers in Turkey? Does Islam impact the business environment, if so, how?

Basic understanding of the global financial integration of an emerging market economy into the wider global economy.

Issues and prospects for the sustainability of Turkey’s economic performance when compared to other actors in the global economy.

The types of firms in Turkey, whether they are SMEs (small medium sized enterprises) large family conglomerates, internationalizing business groups, or multinationals and what this means for their management practices.

Being an entrepreneur in an emerging market like How does it differ from entrepreneurial challenges in more developed economies.

The challenge of building global brands from Turkey.

Turkish professors, top managers, and entrepreneurs, all selected for their expertise and knowledge of both the Turkish context and their broader world view, will lead focused discussions throughout the program. The Istanbul international module will include five content-filled working days (Monday to Friday). Every day will be focused on a specific topic aimed at doing business in Turkey. Prof. Nakiye Boyacıgiller, professor of Management and International Business at Sabancı School of Management will spend the entire week with the participants, helping them weave the various modules together.

Target and learning objectives

The program is targeted at managers and entrepreneurs who want to:

Learn about Turkey, a growing emerging market and an important political and economic leader in a critical region of the world

Learn specifics about managing in the Turkish context, ie, the success and challenges of the financial sector, culture and human resource management practices, strategic innovation and the challenges of internationalization in an emerging country with a look at how to turn local brands into global ones.

Participants will learn about:

The -political, socio-cultural, and economic context of Turkey.

Acquire basic knowledge about the specific features of the social, economic and political contexts in Turkey,

Obtain basic understanding of the leading stakeholders and their demands and aspirations in Turkish civil society. and

Understand social, political and economic dynamics and processes in Turkey’s adaptation to global transformations

Culture and Human Resource Management practices in Turkey.

Develop a broader understanding of the characteristics of Turkish culture and the influence of the Turkish cultural mindset on management, explained in particular, by theories of motivation and leadership,

Learn the specific influences on the HR philosophy, policies and practices of Turkish firms and their owner managers, and

Understand the variety of HRM practices in use across Turkish firms

The Turkish Economic and Financial Context

Basic knowledge of the features of the Turkish economy and its financial system

Basic understanding of global financial integration of an emerging market economy into the wider global economy,

Performance of Turkish financial markets in the context of the financial crisis in Europe, and

Issues and prospects for the sustainability of Turkey’s economic performance when compared to other actors in the global economy

Entrepreneurship in Turkey

Turkish start up ecosystem

Key Learnings Project Assignment:

This program has been developed to provide you with top notch lectures from some of the most knowledgeable experts on Turkey. In order for you to maximize your learnings from the presentations, in groups of three-four you will prepare a short PowerPoint presentation to give to the entire class. The presentation should include the following:

Key learnings from the week, this should be one slide, brief but to the point

How did you find Turkey different or similar to your home country?

If you were to invest in Turkey, what sectors would you choose, where and why? What entrepreneurial opportunities do you see in the country?

Teaching Methodology:

Interactive lectures

Company visits

Group Works

Readings to be done before you arrive in Istanbul:

Richard H.K. Vietor. Turkey—A Work in Progress? HBS Case, 2015.

Please do google searches on the companies we will be visiting before you arrive in Turkey: Turkish Airlines, Airties, & Mavi Jeans. Each day a group of students preselected by Prof. Boyacigiller will be expected to lead the Q&A discussions during our company visits.

Peruse last few months or articles on Turkey in the Economist or other solid news sources to be relatively aware of recent political events.

Important note: Please know that we have made security our first concern when choosing the hotels and venue for the class. We will conduct the program in the Sicimoglu Yalisi, a Sabanci property on the Bosphorus, away from Istanbul’s main tourist and business centers.

Wednesday, September 19th:The Refugee Crisis and its Impact on TRMorning09:15-10:30 Managing Crises in Turkey: What I have learned from working with top MNCs. Isil Aridag, UNITE Founder & COO 10:45-12:00 The Syrian Refugee Crisis: An Overview. Prof. Ayse Betul Celik, Faculty Member, Sabancı University Afternoon14:15-16:00 NGO working with Syrian Refugees 16:00-17:00 Tea and afternoon pastries at cafe run by Syrian refugees in Aksaray district 18:00-19:00 Project work time

Thursday, September 20th: Entrepreneurship in a Turbulent ContextMorning09:15-10:30 Working in and from Turkey: Perspectives of a Turkish American Entrepreneur. Bülent Çelebi, Cofounder, Airties10:45-12:00 Panel Discussion: What foreigners need to know about doing business in TR. Didem Altop, Endeavor Afternoon13:30-15:00 Visit to to ITU Cekirdek Incubator. Deniz Tuncalp, PhD16:00-17:00 Project work time

Friday, September 21st:Transformation and Globalization in a Turbulent EnvironmentMorning09:15-10:30 Transformation in an Emerging Economy: Case of Modern Retailing in Turkey and Teknosa, Dr. Cüneyt Evirgen11:15-13:00 Competing internationally from Turkey: Company visit to Mavi JeansAfternoon14:00-15:00 Project work time15:00-16:00 Team Presentations: Investing in Turkey16:00-16:30 Certificate Presentation16:30-18:00 Tour of Sakip Sabanci Museum18:30-21:00 Farewell Dinner

Saturday, September 22nd: Free day for Shopping/Sightseeing

Nakiye Boyacıgiller

Prof. Dr. Nakiye A. Boyacigiller is the former Dean of the Sabanci School of Management at Sabanci University in Istanbul, Turkey. Born in the US and educated in Turkey, France and the US, Dr. Boyacigiller’s research, teaching and leadership activities all reflect her interests in enhancing the effectiveness of multicultural work groups and cross border collaboration. In 2007 Nakiye was elected a Fellow of the Academy of International Business (AIB) for her contributions to the scholarly development of the field of international business. In addition to her work at Sabanci she is on several international advisory boards advancing business education, women’s empowerment and philantropy.

Ersin Kalaycıoğlu

Ersin Kalaycıoğlu is a Turkishpolitical scientist,Professor of Political Sciences at Sabanci University and former President of Işık University, Istanbul (2004–2007). Prof. Ersin Kalaycıoğlu received his undergraduate degree from Istanbul University, Faculty of Economics in 1973 (major Economics, minors Political Science and Statistics). He continued his education at the University of Iowa, Department of Political Science, and received his M.A. in 1975, and his Ph. D. in 1977. Dr. Kalaycıoğlu started his academic career at Istanbul University, Faculty of Economics from Fall 1977 through Spring 1982, and at the Faculty of Political Science of the same university between Fall 1982 and Spring 1984. Dr. Kalaycıoğlu was employed as a full-time faculty member at Boğaziçi University from Fall 1984 to Spring 2002. As an academic, Prof. Kalaycıoğlu specializes in the study of political representation and participation. Prof. Kalaycıoğlu has contributed a chapter on Turkey in Mark Kasselman, Joel Krieger and William A. Joseph (eds.) Introduction to Comparative Politics, 3rd ed., (Boston, Houghton-Mifflin: 2005). Prof. Kalaycıoğlu is currently a full-time Professor of Political Science at Sabanci University. Present courses offered by him include: Introduction to Turkish Politics and Comparative Party Systems and Interest Groups. Prof. Kalaycıoğlu is a Board Member of the Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation, and also a member of Turkish Political Science Association, Turkish Social Science Association, International Studies Association, International Political Science Association, and Middle Eastern Studies Association of North America (MESA).

Cüneyt Evirgen

Dr. Evirgen, who completed his high school education in Robert College, Istanbul-Turkey, graduated from Bosphorous University, Istanbul, Turkey with BSc degree in Electrical Engineering and BsC degree in Mathematics in 1986 as a double major student. He continued his graduate studies in the area of marketing and received his MBA degree from Bosphorous University, and in 1995, he received his PhD degree in marketing and international business from Michigan State University (MSU), USA. Dr. Evirgen specializes in Marketing Strategy, Retailing and Marketing Research where he has carried out a number of studies. He started his Market Research studies and consultancy work at IBC (International Business Centers), MSU. Dr. Evirgen undertook the General Manager and Board Member position at Bilesim International Research and Consultancy Inc. in Turkey (now part of GfK Inc. and Nielsen Medya Inc. companies) between the years 1994-2002, and coordinated more than 1,000 research projects for over 100 firms in Turkey, and Caucasia and Central Asia through subsidiary companies founded. In this period, the company has been awarded ISO Quality Certificate for the first time in the industry. Between the years 2003-2004, he lectured at Koc University and Sabanci University in the areas of marketing management, global marketing management and strategic brand management. During the same period, he was appointed as Director of the professional Training and Consultancy Program in retailing at Sabanci University. He is also a Board Member in Teknosa Inc. since 2005, Board Member at Cilek Furniture Inc. and Board Member at Carrefoursa Inc. since 2012, and is a member of the Advisory Council at Trade Association of Shopping Centers & Retailers in Turkey. He is also the academic consultant of the Retailing Sectoral Assembly of the Union of Chambers & Commodity Exchanges of Turkey.

Arzu Wasti

S. Arzu Wasti is a Professor of management at the Graduate School of Management, Sabanci University, Istanbul, Turkey. She received her B.S. (Management) in 1992 and her Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) in 1994 from Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey. In 1996, as a Fulbright scholar, she earned an M.S. degree in Human Resources Management at Purdue University. In 1999, she completed her Ph.D. at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Her cross-cultural research on organizational commitment, sexual harassment, organizational trust and organizational culture has appeared in such journals as Journal of Applied Psychology, Journal of Management, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Journal of International Business Studies and Leadership Quarterly. She is a recipient of several research awards, including the International Academy of Intercultural Relations's Best Dissertation Award, the Academy of Management's Lyman Porter and Carolyn Dexter Best Paper Awards and the Turkish Academy of Sciences Encouragement Award.

Ahmet Öncü

Ahmet Öncü is professor of sociology in the School of Management. Professor Öncü’s scholarship is grounded in theories and methods found in the fields of social theory, historical sociology and political economy with application to topics and issues pertaining to the Turkish social formation. His research primarily falls into three themes and related broad research questions: grounding Turkish modernity and capitalism on social theory; political economy of class dynamics and their implications for social and cultural change; and social, political and moral foundations of democracy and citizenship.

Fuat Keyman

E. FUAT KEYMAN is professor of International Relations at Sabancı University/İstanbul. He is also the director of Istanbul Policy Center (IPC) at Sabancı University. He works on democratization, globalization, international relations, civil society, and Turkey-EU relations. He has produced many books and articels, both in English and in Turkish, in these areas. Among his books are Symbiotic Antagonisms: Contending Discourses of Nationalism in Turkey (University of Utah Pres, 2010, with Ayşe Kadıoğlu); Remaking Turkey (Lexington, Oxford, 2008); Turkish Politics in a Changing World: Global Dynamics, Domestic Transformations (Bilgi University Publications, 2007, with Ziya Öniş); Citizenship in a Global World: European Questions and Turkish Experiences (Routledge, London, 2005, with Ahmet İçduygu); Globalization, State, Identity/Difference: Towards a Critical Social Theory of International Relations (Humanities Press, New Jersey, 1997); Cities: The Transformation of Anatolia (Dogan Publications, İstanbul, 2010, in Turkish); Globalization, Europeanization and Citizenship in Turkey, (Bilgi University Publications, İstanbul, 2009, in Turkish); The Good Governace of Turkey (Bilgi University Publications, İstanbul, 2008, in Turkish); Changing World, Tranforming Turkey (Bilgi University Publications, İstanbul, 2005, in Turkish); and Turkey and Radical Democracy (Alfa, Istanbul, 2001, in Turkish).